My Blog

Categoría: Algonomy

  • How to address the problem of sentience?

    In the field of philosophical ideas we can not (easily) make predictions, but we can prove and demand that philosophical hypotheses should have:

    • Regarding the proposed subject:
      • Clarity
      • Internal coherence
      • Compatibility with the evidence (observations, experiences)
      • Explanatory capacity
      • Parsimony, in the sense of leaving out accessory or arbitrary elements
    • Regarding the author, the creation process, and its context:
      • Honesty
      • Impartiality
      • Skepticism
      • Recognize the intention
      • Recognize the motivation

    Read more

  • Asymmetries and compensations between pleasure and pain

    There are two very related questions: “Is there a symmetry between suffering and enjoyment?” and “Can suffering be compensated with enjoyment?”

    Investigating the way in which we respond to these questions is very relevant, since we may have biases or blindness that are encouraging to make bad decisions, such as the survivorship bias. By better understanding and evaluating suffering and enjoyment we can more easily minimize suffering and maximize enjoyment, as well as compensate for bad experiences, if such a thing were possible.

    Read more